8 Wk End Of Harvoni Treatment result: Detected

[Bituman]

Congrats DS!  Looks like the momentum of treatment continues for you. 

Bob

[Momof3]

That is very great news!!!! Very uplifting and promising for those who are on the 8 week treatment like myself! I finish my course of treatment on April 7 I should be getting my 4 week viral load results any day and I really hope that 8 weeks is enough!

[Bob V]

Great news Paul, fingers crossed on your next labs.

[Katie]

YAY Paul...That is terrific news and you are going to beat this.  Don't be worrying about theories out there as those a basically questions and not based on data or results for that specific question.


We'll be both testing at about the same time for our next check!  It's nice to have a buddy.

I am so Happy for you and am doing the HAPPY DANCE for your behalf!  No panic attacks yet...OK?  HA

Katie

[PatEquack]

I would also caution everyone to get new razors, fingernail clippers and toothbrushes. They say the virus can remain potent for weeks on these tools. Also remember if you drink some of those mineral waters they have lots of metals and Harvoni binds to metals.

[Lynn K]

Hi Chino

Yup same here did 12 weeks Sov Oly in November the prescribing information sheet for Olysio was changes making Oly Sov an on label usage and the length of treatment was upped to 24 weeks for patients with cirrhosis. But I treated March to June and that was the recommendation at that time so it is what it is.

I have 45 days left of my 24 weeks with Harvoni and Ribavirin added at 9 weeks in.

I was not detected at 4 weeks and 12 weeks on treatment hopefully this will get the job done this time.

Are you treatment naive or previous non responder? Do you have cirrhosis? That make us harder to treat to be sure.

Good luck

[spitzbar]

1) for careful reading and consideration, and maintenance to SVR:   

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3646144/
                                                           
2) to obtain appreciable effects on HC viral load:

amazon.com/gp/product/B00IPMSQEW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

regards

[MEG]

Paul!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am just getting onto the forum after almost a week offline and yours is the first post I saw...........can't wait to read through others responses because I'm so excited.

I can't tell you how happy I am for you..........so happy...........

God bless and may you continue to lifetime SVRRRRRRRRR!

[katheK]

It looks like good news after all!  Please let us know what happens at 12 weeks and 24.

Best,
Kathie

[Tiger]

In case you missed this info, here's some great news about dragonslayer - he's finally UND after 11 weeks post EOT:
http://forums.hepmag.com/index.php?topic=2557.msg19072#msg19072
Fantastic news for all of us - gives us all hope!

[ponygirl]

I don't understand why physicians are doing 8 week treatments. My gastroenterologist said that the recommendations are 12 or 24 weeks.  And I guess I am fortunate, I have Group Health and was told that they extend treatment if your are responding but not yet clear at 12 weeks

[dragonslayer]

I don't understand why physicians are doing 8 week treatments. My gastroenterologist said that the recommendations are 12 or 24 weeks.  And I guess I am fortunate, I have Group Health and was told that they extend treatment if your are responding but not yet clear at 12 weeks

Quite simply, they are doing it because the Ion-3 trial numbers show it to be just as effective as 12 wks for the recommended group and cost effective, which is never a factor far from the equation... Its the same reason theyre not prescribing Riba with it; in the trials, it did not generally add to effectiveness.   

[Lynn K]

And other than the additional cost another goal is to minimize exposure of patients to excessive amounts of medications when they are not needed.

[dragonslayer]

And other than the additional cost another goal is to minimize exposure of patients to excessive amounts of medications when they are not needed.

Good point; forgot to add that one.  Also, what about this:

>>And I guess I am fortunate, I have Group Health and was told that they extend treatment if your are responding but not yet clear at 12 weeks<<

Since we are finding that low level detecteds at EOT are NOT indicative of treatment  failure, why are they extending treatment based on EOT results??

[apache]

Since we are finding that low level detecteds at EOT are NOT indicative of treatment  failure, why are they extending treatment based on EOT results??

Why is it that with prior treatment protocols (eg, ribavirin and interferon), detectable at EOT meant treatment failure, yet with Harvoni... detectable at EOT... is not an indication of failure?  After all, the active ingredients in Harvoni will be eliminated from one's system in a very short time window (days) after one stops taking Harvoni.   So it would seem that the virus response, given similar VL numbers at EOT, would be the same for both protocols.    What logical explanation is there for the difference?

While I am happy when I read stories about people who are detectable at EOT and then go on to achieve UND status, something seems to be missing from the story.

Also, it seems to me that the conservative (safe) thing to do would be to extend the treatment if one is detectable at EOT.  After all, for all we know, someone who is still detectable at EOT (for 8 week protocol) could be... someone that (had they tried a prior Rx, like interferon & ribavirin) would have failed that prior protocol... and thus fallen into the 12-week Harvoni protocol (not the 8 week protocol).   I think I might be one of those candidates, as my Dr. is (attempting to) extend my 8 week Rx to 12 weeks, due to the fact that my 4-week VL is not UND.   After all, if one looks at the detailed FDA report, for ION-3, the graph in Fig 2, page 81, of Gilead’s FDA detailed report @ http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/nda/2014/205834Orig1s000MedR.pdf  ) shows that close to 99% of people in ION-3 were UND at week 4.    So the fact that one is not UND at week 4 means that one has worse results than 99% of the people in ION-3.   Thus, math would indicate that one's chances of achieving UND are not nearly as good as the participants in ION-3.

The above seems to contradict the anecdotal reports we're hearing about people who are still detectable at week 4 (and EOT), however the above ION-3 study is the only rigorous data we have to date.

Rereading the above, it seems quite pessimistic, so I'd love for someone to point out the flaw in the above logic.

[Lynn K]

 What I have read is that being detected at week four is no indication of eventual SVR. Weakly detected or not detected at week 4 on treatment has been shown to have no effect on eventual SVR 12.

Interferon based tx and Harvoni based tx have different methods to eridicate the virus. On theory being they are damaged and incapable of replicating virus being found and that interferon did not interfere with the virus replication life cycle as Harvoni does.

That being said if I was on 8 weeks and still detected I would prefer to get the additional 4 weeks no matter what the reports say. But if I was not detected a week 4 and 8 week  EOT I would be good with that

[MEG]

Hi apache,

There is a thread for this conversation re: being detected at various time-points with Harvoni(and other direct acting agents(DAAs).

Lynn's explanation points to what they are saying. It's a completely different way the 2 agents(interferon-based tx vs. DAA therapy) work....


http://forums.hepmag.com/index.php?topic=2597.0

I hope that helps. It's very confusing for those of who, even if untreated, have been following the evolution of HepC therapy.

I think a good analogy re: the DAA's may be the Zithromax for bacterial infections. You take it for only 5 days but it continues to work in your system for a while post finishing.

Meg.

[dragonslayer]

>> Why is it that with prior treatment protocols (eg, ribavirin and interferon), detectable at EOT meant treatment failure, yet with Harvoni... detectable at EOT... is not an indication of failure?  After all, the active ingredients in Harvoni will be eliminated from one's system in a very short time window (days) after one stops taking Harvoni.   So it would seem that the virus response, given similar VL numbers at EOT, would be the same for both protocols.    What logical explanation is there for the difference?

While I am happy when I read stories about people who are detectable at EOT and then go on to achieve UND status, something seems to be missing from the story. <<

I had asked a similar question with implications not all that different from yours.. I wanted to know why it is that being low level detected at end of Interferon treatments  meant relapse for many/most, while being detected at end of Harvoni does not?  My reasoning, not unlike yours, was that when the virus attacking drug is out of the system  both with Interferon treatments and with Harvoni, relapse should quickly occur with both.. Yet it doesnt... Implicit in that question was, why are relapse rates so much higher with interferon patients who had acheved undetected status at EOT than Harvoni patients who have achieved undetected status at EOT.

The answer to both, from what I read, is the same.. .DAAs in general, and Harvoni in particular work differently than earlier treatments.   Harvoni interferes with the virus' ability to replicate, so those virions detected at EOT are often times not vital.  As with the case with me, the viral load count went from 29 at EOT, to detected < LLOQ(12) at 7 wks post treatment, to Undetected at 11 wks post treatment.. SVR....

I wish there were more cases to generalize from where patients were detected at EOT, to follow their progress to SVR, however we have some.. .Me, for one... Katie and Dee Dee were also detected at EOT.  Katie had her 12 wk post treatment blood draw yesterday and we are looking forward to some good news from her in a few days..

Then, we have this study published in the Oxford Journals  which shows all  6 low detecteds achieved SVR12.  None of them did not achieve SVR.. .

http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2015/03/02/cid.civ170.abstract

The conclusion of this study is:
"Conclusions. Contrary to past experience with interferon-containing treatments, low levels of quantifiable HCV RNA at EOT do not preclude treatment success."


Clearly there is something going on here with Harvoni which renders eot low level detected status much less significant for svr than with past treatments.

Im not wishing eot detected status on anyone; just that I believe it must be viewed quite differently than with past treatments, and I believe, the evidence is mounting.

MEG... thanks for posting that link.. I had forgotten about that article, so its a great inclusion in this thread, and just adds to the mounting evidence about which we've been talking.  From the wonderful article to which you refer comes this quote; while Im not sure we know the exact reason that low level detecteds at EOT go on to SVR; only that it often does:

"There must be other reasons to explain the high SVR," Guedj said. "We think most of the [newly produced] virus may be uninfectious...treatment may have the effect of replacing a working replication complex with a defective replication complex, which explains how most patients could clear the virus in 6 weeks."

and:

"Based on these findings, the researcher concluded that direct-acting antivirals may have a "hidden effect [of treatment] not reflected in measured HCV RNA," and that "viral load kinetics, in particular at [end of treatment], may not be a reliable marker of SVR." "

[Katie]

Dragonslayer:  Your logic is good.  Thanks for your comment as it helps put some of my fears aside.  I am very confident I will clear this, however there are those moments.  I am going in for an abdominal ultrasound tomorrow and then will get both results on Monday.

Thanks again to both you and Meg and Apache!

A beautiful sunny day today.  Going out to the shop and pull out some wood for a bookshelf.  I still have boxes of books to sort through and put away! 

Life is good!

Katie

[apache]

Hi Dragonslayer and Meg,

Thanks for the detailed replies.   It's nice to see even more data points for non-UND at EOT progressing to a happy ending (UND).

So taking those scenarios into account, and once again looking at the detailed FDA report, ... perhaps the real question is, what proof do we have that anyone needs more than 8 weeks of Harvoni?   The VL charts in the report imply no one needs more than 8 weeks, even treatment-experienced patients!

In particular, take a look at the ION-2 arm of the study, where Gilead tested:

• 12-week
• 24 week

protocols, for treatment-experienced, etc. candidates.  Logically, it "makes sense" that those candidates would need to take Harvoni for longer. 

And yet, if one looks at the week-by-week report for ION-2 results (Fig 3, page 82)
, we see almost identical results as from the ION-3 chart (Fig 2, page 81).  The ION-2 chart shows that by Week 4,  99% of the ION-2 (treatment-experienced) had achieved UND status!  Which is exactly what the ION-3 chart shows.

So this implies that no one needs more than 8 weeks of Harvoni!  In other words, according to the detailed report, all of the candidates (ION-2 and ION-3) achieve (in 99% of the cases) HCV < LLOQ by Week 4.   So since we're arguing that low levels of VL at EOT lead to UND, there appears to be zero argument for extending Harvoni beyond week 8.  In fact, for 99% of the cases, it would seem there is zero argument for extending Harvoni beyond Week 4!   


(As far as the viral load not being an adequate indicator for extending treatment, that of course begs the question of... well, what should be used then to measure whether or not the Harvoni works?    AFAICT there is only one diagnostic measure possible, and that is VL.)

[Katie]

Apache:  That's a good argument but it may be a bit premature.  It would be prudent to wait for the 24 post treatment tests to come in to make sure there aren't any relapses. We are the true test!  The real world treatments are too new to change right now, in my personal opinion, but it would be GREAT for the treatment to be shortened and that may be what the data will show.  With so many taking Harvoni who have different conditions I am sure they will fine tune much of the guidelines.

The journey isn't yet over!

Katie

[Tiger]

Hello everyobody,

I know at least some of you have seen/read this:
http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hcv-basic-science/5160-croi-2015-hcv-viral-load-and-speed-of-decline-do-not-predict-cure-with-interferon-free-therapy
It was posted here:
http://forums.hepmag.com/index.php?topic=2597.0
and many of your took part in that discussion in which everybody basically agreed that it is a must read and very, very relevant and encouraging.

Anyway, I am expecting my 8-week EOT VL tomorrow and sure hope that it comes back UND, but even if it doesn't, God forbid, judging from the above link and also from experience of others on this forum, there's still should be a good chance that UND can still be achieved at some point later...

Keeping fingers crossed and wishing you all to be done and over with this...

[Debula]

Good way of thinking about it Tiger, I was reading and preparing for that possibility too
I hope you get UND tomorrow - and so you don't have to worry about it as much
Please post and let us know
Good luck!

[dragonslayer]

Apache,

>>So this implies that no one needs more than 8 weeks of Harvoni!  In other words, according to the detailed report, all of the candidates (ION-2 and ION-3) achieve (in 99% of the cases) HCV < LLOQ by Week 4.   So since we're arguing that low levels of VL at EOT lead to UND, there appears to be zero argument for extending Harvoni beyond week 8.  In fact, for 99% of the cases, it would seem there is zero argument for extending Harvoni beyond Week 4!    <<

Logically, what you say makes sense... However, lets not forget that relapse DOES occur in a small number of patients.. The Gilead stats play pretty much in the 2-5% range. For them, there may be some advantage to extending treatment.   Plus, I doubt that 100% of low detecteds at EOT convert to SVR.. We just dont have those numbers yet..  All we can really say is that it occurs.   And from that perspective, until the actual number is known, I think your argument of extending treatment may have merit..  My point in responding to you is that folks should not forget that we are seeing low detecteds at EOT convert to SVR.. As to how many, I just dont think it is known yet.

[Tiger]

He-he-hei!!!

Just went to the online portal of my doc/hospital and they just posted the results -
HCV RNA Not Detected!!! - Yahoooo!!!

Prior to that:
Jan 2010 VL - 2.7 mil
Jan 2015 VL - 0.5 mil

AST - 23 (Prior: mid-treatment: 21, Before treatment: 49, one before that: 33)
ALT - 35 (Prior: mid-treatment: 26, Before treatment: 100, one before that: 65)

So,  now I officially transfer to the waiting team - till mid-July.

Thank you all for being absolutely fantastic - and wholeheartedly wishing everybody still not done to follow me to the waiting team and then in 3 month on to join all the others already on the SVR team!!!

[Lynn K]

As far as 8 or even 12 weeks I don't believe either would be appropriate for me as a 3 time null responder to interferon based and a Sov Oly relapser with cirrhosis for 7 years.

Per ION 2 for my cohort the 12 week treatment is more like 86% and if you look at the Solar-1 trial for patients with decompensated cirrhosis Child "B" (I am borderline "B") 12 weeks of Harvoni /Riba 87 % and 24 weeks Harvoni/Riba 89 % So the percentages are not quite as rosy for me. especially when you figure in previous Solvaldi Olysio failure.

I am treating for 24 weeks of Harvoni plus we added ribavirin later so 15 weeks of riba for basically two reasons.

I am obviously difficult to cure and what options do I have if this treatment fails? Do I have enough time to wait for the next, next best thing coming? If I should fail Harvoni what new thing coming would work any better? So basically I feel like this is my last best shot at a cure before I get in line for a liver transplant and hope I get one in time.

Best to all fighting the dragon

[Katie]

You are always on my mind Lynn, and I just know you are going to make it this time!  You are always so clear and logical with your information and I admire you!

Keep the strength and courage.  This drug is working so much better than anything you've tried before.  It is a new game and the Dragon isn't winning!

Katie

[Lynn K]

Yeah I try to be strong but it is hard not to be a little afraid at times....

My test for SVR 12 will be about 27 July so I guess I will know if it is thumbs up or thumbs down in early August.

I have asked my doctor to do a 4 week post EOT viral load just to see how it looks. That would be June 1st with results however many days after that.

[ponygirl]

Thanks everyone. Great responses. I know I was told when I started that because I was a non-responder to Riba-interferon, I was DXed with bridging fibrosis 12 years ago, I have portal hypertension, and I had a viral load of 23million I had to do either the 12 weeks Harvoni with Ribavirin or 24 weeks Harvoni.

My gastro said for reasons of shortening treatment and cost of Harvoni that they were starting me with the two drugs and if I could not handle the anemia and depression sides of Riba, that they would stop the Riba and do the 24 weeks of Harvoni.

At week 4 my Riba was decreased because of side effects. My count was <15 and Gastro said that if my count goes up they will either try to increase the Riba 200mg or extend the Harvoni from 12 to 24 weeks. I was told that the most recent studies  indicates  that with cirrhosis the recommendation is 24 weeks Harvoni or 12 weeks Harvoni and Riba.

My friend who was a PA in concurrent HIV/HVC studies at UW told me: <15 results ( and sometimes higher) counts does not always mean that the virus is not clear but based on how the viral strands are identified in the testing it could mean that partial/broken or "dead intact strands that cannot replicate"  are being counted. She says that, in layman's terms, this is frequently the reason that people "clear" 12 weeks after the end of treatment when they were detectable at the end of treatment.

[ponygirl]

Lynn, The studies you are quoting are the same ones that I read and it made me REALLY sad. I saw a study, and I do not know which one it was, that indicated that odds of clearing were increased with 24 and Riba even for those with cirrhosis...which keeps me a bit more positive. 

I am rooting for you, and for myself because I am about to become a 1st time grandmother.

[Lynn K]

Rooting for you too ponygirl grand ma to be!

May you have many years to enjoy your grand children and watch them grow. 

Don't forget to give the grand kids loud toys like drums to send them home to mom and dad so they can all enjoy together lol 

[janne325]

I am new here and was approved today for 8 weeks Harvoni.  I am still in shock the procedure was so fast and all paid for.  I am 66 female with 1b under 6 million treatment naïve and have been living with this for 11 years. 
I am so upset to hear of relapse of others and so very sorry.
I raised concern with my Dr. that there are no guidelines!  IF WE CAN INFECT OTHERS WITH OUR TOOTHBRUSHES, RAZORS, ETC., WE CAN CERTAINLY RE-INFECT OURSELVES.  My first inclination is to sterilize everything by soaking all personal items in Clorox (1part Clorox to 9 parts water) for 20 minutes and starting over with fresh new washcloths or disposable cloths, toothbrushes, etc, bath sponges, manicure products, makeup, etc.  and then keeping everything sterile all throughout treatment.  My mouth bleeds sometimes when I brush my teeth, always when I get my teeth cleaned.  I work outside in my garden and get scratches on my legs and arms sometimes and sometimes cut my finger a little when I slice food in the kitchen.  I live alone and don't cook for anyone on purpose.  I am seriously wondering if people are relapsing because they have somehow re-infected  themselves???  Maybe a nail clipper that had some blood on it? or a handkerchief?  I don't know.  It just freaks me out at the possibility.  I think it is very real that this is something we all need to pay attention to and sterilize our environment for our own safety.  Wipe everything down with Clorox that could possibly have been exposed to our own blood.  Also, should we take vitamins and other supplements or not take them to put less work on the liver?  It makes sense to eat as healthy as possible and organic and avoid foods like red meat that is hard for the liver to digest. Does anyone know of any detailed guidelines on how NOT to re-infect ourselves?  Would like to hear what you all have to say.  Thanks,  JJ

[pappy]

I did Harvoni 8 weeks and 3 months after treatment i found out i had a 7867179 viral load so i am going to do re-treatment not sure on what yet . At the end of treatment i had a 0 detected lab result . The dr. said i was only the second person who had a relapse at his office .

[Lynn K]

Hi Pappy

so  sorry to read this here is some info I found

When a short course of sofosbuvir/ledipasvir fails, some people can be cured of hepatitis C with a double treatment duration

http://www.aidsmap.com/When-a-short-course-of-sofosbuvirledipasvir-fails-some-people-can-be-cured-of-hepatitis-C-with-a-double-treatment-duration/page/2965963/


Best to you

[dragonslayer]

Lynn, That's encouraging; thanks for the link!

[pappy]

Just to update those who are interested my dr. has decided to wait for a new drug and delayed any further treatment for me till 11-15 ! I cannot get any satisfactory info about what this new drug is ? This leads me to believe that it is more a ploy by my insurance (Aetna) to wait for price reduction . If someone can enlighten me about what new treatments are in the pipeline i will feel better about my fate .

Hi Pappy

so  sorry to read this here is some info I found

When a short course of sofosbuvir/ledipasvir fails, some people can be cured of hepatitis C with a double treatment duration

http://www.aidsmap.com/When-a-short-course-of-sofosbuvirledipasvir-fails-some-people-can-be-cured-of-hepatitis-C-with-a-double-treatment-duration/page/2965963/


Best to you

[DisabledHepcat]

pappy , you wrote earlier : I did Harvoni 8 weeks and 3 months after treatment i found out i had a 7867179 viral load

If you were over 6 million IU when you started you should have received 12 weeks of Harvoni. You are 7.9 million after 3 months off the 8 weeks according to what you wrote and I would suspect you were around that number or higher when you started the 8 week therapy. Lawsuit !

[badbradley]

Pappy    Here is a link you may find useful.http://hcvdrugs.com/detailed_ref.html

Brad

[anniemybaby]

I haven't posted for awhile but thought I'd give n update I was undetected at 2,6 n 8 wks while on my 8 wk treatment next month I go for my 3 month post treatment test I'm very positive feel great will let everyone know my results next month

[Katie]

Hi Annie!  Good hearing from you and am happy you are doing so well.  If you have time to post your post treatment test results on this forum: http://forums.hepmag.com/index.php?topic=2665.new;topicseen#new

Charly is compiling the data so we can see the data for all of our fellow Harvoni friends.

Have a great summer!

Katie

[bridget]

Pappy,
It has to be very frustrating to be put off until November. Some good news; I am in a study at the National Institutes of Health. They have been following my progression for 20+ years but I have never been a good fit for one of their drug studies. The last time I was in there was a couple of months ago. I had just tested "detected" after 8 weeks on Harvoni & was sharing my concern with the dr.  He said don't worry, we are doing several studies now & the effectiveness is improving & the duration of treatment is decreasing. He seemed very positive that there will soon be several excellent options. If Harvoni is not the right one for you, there will soon be other great choices.
Hang in there.

[LazyRob]

Hello all

I joined here to share my lab tests and other experiences with you and to find maybe some additional infos.
Maybe someone is in the same situation like me and I can give some hope in this situation.
I think I'm HCV infected since 1991, diagnosed in the year 2008 because bad conditions comming from my very bad liver blood tests.
From that moment, I stopped drinking alcohol or any other influences which can stress my liver (zero tolerance policy) and my liver values becomes slowly better (but it takes 5 years).
I drank maybe 1-2 bottles of beer per day in the evening during years but I was not alcoholic.

I live in Switzerland (sorry for my english) and waited until March 2015 for Harvoni and the approval process and I'm one in the first line, using Harvoni in my country, so there are not many experiences to share available. 

I started as a treatment naive with Harvoni (for 12 weeks) at March 2015 with a F3, HCV GT 1b, Fibroscan 6,6 ... 8,9 at day zero of the treatment.
 
Day  0 results: VL 1.4M, GGT 62, AST 48, ALT 129
Day 12 results: VL  470. GGT 43, AST 22, ALT 35
Day 27 resluts: VL  217, GGT 41, AST 19, ALT 31

After 4 Weeks (exactly 27 days) my feeling was very very great and everything looks positive, but now I'm very worried, because I was still HCV positive after 4 weeks.
My Doc said, another Prof at the last Vienna Hep conference 2015 told him, after 4 weeks it's usual the virus should NOT be longer detectable in any (of maybe his) cases.
I do not know if I should believe this.

This week I'll recieve the week 8 (day 55) results and inform you. I'm aware, that a serious SVR can be only proofed 3 months after EOT.

Additional.. in this 8 weeks, I had no well known side effects (only on day 1 after 4-5h I got almost unconscious, so take care with you after the fist pill)
So still I have 4 weeks left, lets see what happens. I have no plan B because my health insurance told me, that they will pay only for 12 weeks.

I wish you all the best

Rob

[MEG]

Hi Rob,

Congratulations on being able to receive Harvoni.

Your lab work looks great. Everything coming down. Indeed, many people who are still detectable at 4 weeks into treatment  become negative and some people, even at the end of 12 weeks still have tiny amounts of virus. We got the same information from the Vienna Conference.....the time point(whether it's 4 weeks or 8 weeks or 12 weeks) someone becomes negative, while on treatment, that it makes no difference regarding whether they will achieve SVR. Even those with tiny amounts at end of treatment can go to SVR.

We have 2 members here who fell into that category--tiny amount at EOT. They achieved 12weeks SVR.

Best! Keep doing what you're doing to heal and get healthy.

Meg.

[Katie]

Additional.. in this 8 weeks, I had no well known side effects (only on day 1 after 4-5h I got almost unconscious, so take care with you after the fist pill)
So still I have 4 weeks left, lets see what happens. I have no plan B because my health insurance told me, that they will pay only for 12 weeks.

I wish you all the best

Rob

Hi Rob,

Check these sites out.  There have been 3 of who were strong responders but  were detected at the end of treatment.  Our VL tests consistently dropped and we all cleared, 1 at 12 weeks and 2 including me, at 8 weeks post treatment.  Several people who were undetected at end of treatment relapsed at q2 weeks post treatment.  Check this thread out:
http://forums.hepmag.com/index.php?topic=2665.new;topicseen#new

So there are many variables and scenarios and the undetected during treatment does not always mean cured.  That being said,  finish your treatment, eat healthy and drink lots of water and exercise as you can and you will more than likely do just fine.  Your numbers are doing good and going down.  Let us know how you are doing and good luck!

http://hepatitiscnewdrugs.blogspot.com/2015/03/hcv-rna-does-not-always-mean-treatment.html

http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hcv-basic-science/5160-croi-2015-hcv-viral-load-and-speed-of-decline-do-not-predict-cure-with-interferon-free-therapy

You might want to print these article off and give to your doctor, as my doctor was not aware of this possibility and appreciated that I shared it with him.

Good luck and I think you will find this forum very beneficial!

I have always wanted to visit Switzerland as my Great Grandparents were from there!  I have made my home in Alaska!

Katie

[LazyRob]

thank you Meg and Katie for your words.

Today I become a short message from the lab, that my day 55 liver results  (8 wk) looks very fine, meaning hcv is no longer detectable. Now it looks like much better and my positive thinking will help me to climb the next months until final SVR. I'll post all my lab results in the topic you wrote to become more transparence with this treatment.

finally.. do not trust the words, that after 4 weeks the virus must not be detectable. There are no proof for this statement

with fortunately greetings
Rob

[Katie]

Great News Rob!  I am so happy for you!

[MEG]

How wonderful Rob. Yes, these positive news pieces while on treatment help our spirits to the next steps...

Those links are excellent Katie...!

Awaiting, as we speak, 4 week EOT labs....Lft's are in the 20s...lower than during the entire course of Harvoni and have not been this low since I was in my 20s.......a few decades ago ;-0   Fingers crossed they are a sign that I'll see UNDETECTABLE on my lab report.

Stay positive and love life, all...Meg